An Ignoble Experiment: [Parent Hacks] 1 new post in Parent Hacks

2012/05/14

[Parent Hacks] 1 new post in Parent Hacks

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"Upgrade" your marble jar with rocks

via www.deathbygreatwall.com

Are you familiar with the idea of using a marble jar as a motivation system for your kids? A marble jar is sort of like a tactile star chart. Each time your kid does the thing you're trying to encourage (anything from chores to positive actions) he gets a marble placed in his jar. Once the jar's full, he gets a reward.

Somehow a marble jar is so much more satisfying than stars or check marks on a chart. The fun of playing with marbles, the "plunk" of a marble earned, the simple beauty of jar full of colorful marbles...it all adds up to a great system.

I'm thinking of bringing the marble jar back to our house -- even older kids can benefit from a visual, tactile reminder and reward for their actions.

ANYWAY. Dana has "upgraded" her family's marble jar with rocks. Marbles are great, but big rocks signify special accomplishments, and they add to the beauty of the jar as well (wouldn't that make a nice centerpiece?).

Read the full post for details: How to Motivate Your Kids Using Rocks (no children were harmed in the writing of this post!)

More: Hacks about star charts and other reward systems